Turning teachers into artists. . .

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A short film showing our work by Sarah Ellison.

To promote arts education as a tool for dynamic growth in the developing world.

African children are naturally artistic. They dance, sing, play drums, draw, and invent toys just for fun. The international ArtForceAfrica team recognizes the need in West-Africa for arts education. The team believes that these talents should be harvested to encourage creative and cognitive development in children, thus creating new generations of artists who can compete in the global music market and leaders who can think creatively to find new solutions to old problems.

In order to create a project that would respond to the need for arts education, ArtForceAfrica in collaboration with the people of Ouidah, Benin founded The International Center of Art and Music (CIAMO), which opened October of 2010. Watch the "First Steps" video and explore our site to learn more about CIAMO and ArtForceAfrica.

From the blog

International Vudon Festival

Murals Agaist Malaria

Peace Corps Response Volunteer Sarah Ellison recently completed a mural project that promoted the use of mosquito nets in the fight against malaria. The project was funded by a Small Projects Assistance Grant (SPA) from USAID